Temple Israel of New Rochelle. We are a community that adds meaning and purpose to modern lives through an inclusive approach to Judaism.
We live our Jewish values in our worship, celebration, lifelong learning and Tikkun Olam-the repair of the world.
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Wednesday, November 30, 2016

When my daughter Sonya was five years old, we had a very special bedtime tradition. Every night, in her lovely, little girl voice, she would sing the Sh’ma with the “traditional” melody composed by Solomon Sulzer in mid-nineteenth century Vienna. At first, she would sing it as she learned it, with her best possible Hebrew. But then she would sing it a second time, this time doing it her own way. Sometimes she would change the words or tune. Often she would echo each word as she sang (“sh’ma-ma-ma-ma Yisrael-el-el-el…). In short, she had a great time while singing the Sh’ma. That a five-year-old could have a great time performing a millennia old Jewish ritual every night is no small statement. It says a great deal about her, our family, Reform Judaism and the future of our Jewish rituals. And it exemplifies my ideals as a cantor and as a Jewish leader. I embrace tradition, but I also use it as a catalyst for new modes of worship, new ritual and new music. In order to create a vibrant, relevant Jewish experience for all, we need to embrace both our history and our unique, modern sensibilities.

Here at Temple Israel, we are lucky to have such diverse offerings of worship styles. In the month of December alone, we will share the following Shabbat services: Community Shabbat, Chanukah themed Family Shabbat, a more classical Friday night with Torah Service, and one Friday night simply welcoming Shabbat. If any of these appeal to you in particular (e.g. Torah Service, Organ and Choir, Kol Simcha, etc.), I would encourage you also to try a service that isn’t your typical fare. You may be surprised by the traditional elements found in our Family and Community Shabbatot, or how the Organ and choir can help inspire new experiences of prayer. Check the worship calendar!

Judaism has wonderful traditions. And as I am still quite new to our community, I am thoroughly enjoying learning the special Temple Israel twists on those traditions. In the months and years ahead I look forward to embracing and to building upon the beautiful traditions of our people and our community.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

I awoke this morning after
a late night and woke up our girls to explain to them the results of the
election last night. They were upset, but mostly, they were
shocked. I feel shocked too. Not at the results per se, but at the
difference in the values that I voted for and the clear values statement many
voters made yesterday: "I'm angry at the government and its dysfunction;
I'm voting for the anti-government candidate." Sadly, I also truly
believe that there are those who voted against a woman president, against the
progressive gains made by women, people of color and people on the sexuality
spectrum over the last eight years.

Yesterday, I voted,
proudly, with Limor and our girls based on our Jewish values - for
inclusiveness, fairness, equality and tolerance. These are values steeped
in the Torah and in our experiences. It is those very experiences that
made the rhetoric of this campaign particularly painful to the Jewish community
as a whole: race-baiting, anti-Semitism and nationalism have all been used
against our people throughout our history. We have a keen sensitivity to
such words. Today is the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the Night of
Broken Glass, where in 1938, the Nazi's officially began their persecutions of
the Jews in Germany. There needn't be a link between that day and the
election of Donald Trump as the next President of the United States. This
date, however, is a reminder that words and votes can lead to terrible
outcomes. If...

- If we turn our backs on our responsibility to be engaged
citizens, vigilant in making sure that the dangerous words of the campaign do
not become dangerous acts.

- If we turn our backs on our religious traditions of treating
everyone with the notion that each of us is created in the image of the Divine
and therefore should be treated with holiness.

- If we turn our backs on the concept of Tikkun Olam, that we are
obligated to work to make our world a better place.

- If we turn our backs on those Americans who feel such despair at
their lot in life that a protest vote feels like a last option.

- If we forget, for even
one moment, our obligation to teach our children right from wrong, that ends
justify the means and that divisiveness is a winning strategy in the long.

Zachor, "remember,"
the Torah implores us time and time again; remember injustices brought upon us
and work to make our world a place of justice. "Justice, justice,
shall you pursue!" Justice, we are taught, is not recrimination and
revenge, but a balancing of the scales. America is out of balance and we
need to do our part to restore the balance. That's what we Jews have done
with the gift of American liberties - we've improved out lot in life and used
that improved standing to make the lives of others, our country and the world
better.

I pray, with all sincerity
for the success of Donald Trump's presidency; not on policy grounds, but with
the hope that his election spurs in our nation a desire to heal wounds, to
right wrongs and to meet the needs of the citizenry. We all bear a role
in such a presidency, no matter whom we voted for.

My colleagues, Rabbi
Nichols and Cantor Schloss, and I, are here for you. Call, write, stop
by. In times of doubt, we need to be together as a beit knesset (synagogue),
literally "the house of gathering" is just such a place.

Friday night, we will have
our annual Shabbat service in commemoration of Kristallnacht and Veterans
Day. The two might seem incongruous, but they are not. We retell
the stories of our pain and suffering to remind ourselves of how bleak the
world can be, but we also gather to show that we are not powerless and that in
our moments of great distress, our nation is capable of unifying under the
sacred ideals upon which this country was founded. Join us, pray with us.

On Rosh Hashanah, my
sermon ended with our community singing God Bless America. We need God's
blessings, as we always have. And God needs us to do our part, to make
whole what is broken.

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Summer Camp!

The High Holidays may have just ended, but it is time to start thinking about the summer in this new year of 5777! Many
families in our community send, or plan to send, their children to
overnight camp. Entrusting the care of your children to a summer camp is
a big decision, and there are dozens of outstanding camps to choose
from.

As you consider what camp is the best fit for your child, we encourage you to consider Jewish summer camps.
Over the years you may have heard me speak about the transformative
experiences I have witnessed while serving as a faculty member at the
Union for Reform Judaism’s Eisner Camp. But you do not have to take my
word on the power of Jewish camping. The Foundation for Jewish Camp
compiled data from over 25 Jewish population studies and found
overwhelming evidence indicating that attending Jewish summer camp
strengthens Jewish identity and builds Jewish community (jewishcamp.org/research).

The
wider Jewish community and Temple Israel believe so strongly in Jewish
overnight camp experiences that we have grants available to help you try
it out. The Foundation for Jewish Camp’s “One Happy Camper” program
provides $1000 for each child attending an eligible Jewish camp for the
first time. In addition, Temple Israel’s Hirshenhorn Fund gives
additional funds to children attending an eligible Jewish overnight camp
for the first time (or traveling to Israel with an organized teen
program). Please contact me for more information on these sources of
funding at RabbiNichols@tinr.org.

How
do you choose a camp for this summer or a summer in the future? Your
Temple Israel community is the best place to start. Talk with your
friends, parents in your children’s grades and our staff. The clergy and
professional staff can share their own experiences attending and
working at camp, as well as connect you with families in the
congregation who have attended over a dozen different Jewish camps. For a
full picture of all there is to choose from, the Foundation for Jewish Camp has profiles of over 150 Jewish camps on their website (jewishcamp.org) with an easy to use way to sort by geography, activities, Jewish affiliation and other features.

The
summer is a unique time for kids to immerse themselves in a Jewish
community away from the pressures of the school year. In addition to
traditional overnight camps there are local and national programs
focusing on travel, volunteering, history and more. We look forward to
holding many conversations with you about the wide variety of Jewish
summer opportunities open to your children and teens. Start 5777 thinking about CAMP!

Check all the pictures below from last year ... don't miss the fun this year! Let us know some of your memories, leave a comment below for Rabbi Nichols to read!